KTM adds Pol Espargaro to 2017 MotoGP line-up

The Spaniard joins Bradley Smith in leaving the Tech3 Yamaha team to move across to the Austrian firm's project on a two-year deal.

"I saw the opportunity to do something different," Espargaro said.

"Working together with KTM will be crazy hard, but I'm ready to work.

"Right now, they are building everything, they are building the team, the mechanics, the bike - I didn't see even the bike [before signing] and I'm looking forward to going there to see how they work.

"Where they go, they win. We will try hard to try to do something similar to what they are doing in Moto3, to come here in MotoGP and try to do our best together."

Espargaro is currently seventh in the 2016 points, his third season in MotoGP, having been signed by Yamaha and then placed with Tech3 after winning the '13 Moto2 title.

While he was not considered by Yamaha as a replacement for Jorge Lorenzo, Espargaro admitted that staying with the satellite outfit was an option, along with interest from the Avintia satellite Ducati outfit.

"We had the option also to continue with Tech3, but sometimes in life you have to go in a different way," he said.

"We spent three years with Tech3 fighting and trying. We didn't get our target, that was going to the factory bike, and even like that we will continue trying during the rest of the season to get one good position, one podium.

"We had the KTM opportunity, they showed us what they could offer and it's a new adventure.

"And also [thanks] to Ducati and Avintia, they showed good interest to me in these last weeks and suddenly we couldn't take this way.

"I'm really happy to face this adventure with KTM."

KTM motorsport director Pit Beirer said: "We're more than happy that we're now able to sign Pol Espargaro as a young rider of form and with MotoGP experience for this dynamic project.

"Both Pol and Bradley are well suited to KTM. Also in Mika Kallio we have an extremely motivated and competent test rider within the structure.

"We can grow together and continue to develop in all aspects.

"Now we hope for good conditions for the further tests and extend wishes to everyone for a successful rest of the season 2016."

2017 MOTOGP GRID SO FAR
Yamaha: Valentino Rossi, Maverick Vinales
Honda: Marc Marquez, Dani Pedrosa
Ducati: Jorge Lorenzo, Andrea Dovizioso
Suzuki: Andrea Iannone, TBC
KTM: Bradley Smith, Pol Espargaro
Aprilia: Sam Lowes, TBC
Tech3 Yamaha: Jonas Folger, TBC
LCR Honda: Cal Crutchlow

Yet to announce riders: Marc VDS, Pramac Ducati, Avintia Ducati, Aspar Ducati